West Ham has sacked men's first-team Head Coach Nuno Espirito Santo with immediate effect, the club announced Tuesday. The decision comes after a disappointing start to the EFL Championship season, leaving the promotion favorites in eighth place.
Santo, who previously managed Tottenham, Wolves, and Nottingham Forest, signed a three-year contract in September 2025. His tenure followed West Ham's relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2024-2025 season. Despite expectations of a strong showing in the second tier, the team has secured only six wins in 13 matches, with their latest outing a 3-1 home defeat to West Bromwich Albion.
In a club statement, West Ham's Board of Directors stated that a thorough review of the season's opening led them to believe a change was necessary to keep the club's objectives on track. Assistant Head Coach Rui Pedro Silva and Goalkeeper Coach Rui Barbosa have also departed.
Mark Noble, Steve Potts, and Gerard Prenderville will temporarily manage the team for the upcoming match against Cardiff City. The club has initiated the search for a new Head Coach.
While some expected Santo's departure following relegation, club co-owner David Sullivan reportedly favored parting ways with the coach earlier. However, Daniel Kretinsky, now the largest shareholder, had backed Santo to lead the promotion charge. The club had also invested heavily in the squad, retaining key players like Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek and adding Arne Engels for a Championship record fee of £22 million. Despite some high-scoring wins, inconsistency has plagued the team, with recent losses to Southampton and West Brom proving decisive.
Fans voiced their discontent during and after the West Brom match, with chants of "sacked in the morning" heard at the London Stadium. Following the game, Santo acknowledged the pressure and the need for better results, stating, "The only solution is to improve our game. When we do that, our fans are going to stick with us. They’re going to support us."